Microemulsion

Abstract

A microemulsion composition containing the following ingredients (A) through (F): (A) a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant having as a hydrophilic group a residue of a sugar, reducing sugar or polyglycerin having a hydrogen atom of at least one hydroxyl group thereof removed; (B) a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene chain as a hydrophilic group; (C) a water-soluble organic solvent selected from the group consisting of (C1) through (C3) listed below; (C1) a compound having in a molecule thereof two or more oxypropylene groups (PO) and hydroxyl groups (OH), the ratio in number of these two groups (PO/OH) being smaller than 5; (C2) a monohydric alcohol having a carbon number ranging from 2 to 6; and (C3) a dihydric alcohol having a carbon number ranging from 2 to 6; (D) a lipophilic nonionic surfactant; (E) an oily ingredient; and (F) water.

1 . A microemulsion comprising the following ingredients (A) through (F): 
 (A) a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant having as a hydrophilic group a residue of a sugar, reducing sugar or polyglycerin having a hydrogen atom of at least one hydroxyl group thereof removed;    (B) a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene chain as a hydrophilic group;    (C) a water-soluble organic solvent selected from the group consisting of (C1) through (C3) listed below, 
 (C1) a compound having in a molecule thereof two or more oxypropylene groups (PO) and hydroxyl groups (OH) the ratio in number of said two groups (PO/OH) being smaller than 5;  
 (C2) a monohydric alcohol having a carbon number ranging from 2 to 6; and  
 (C3) a dihydric alcohol having a carbon number ranging from 2 to 6;  
   (D) a lipophilic nonionic surfactant;    (E) an oily ingredient; and    (F) water.    
   
   
       2 . The microemulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic nonionic surfactant constituting said ingredient (A) is selected from the group consisting of polyglyceryl fatty acid esters, polyglyceryl alkyl ethers, sucrose fatty acid esters and alkylpolyglucosides.  
   
   
       3 . The microemulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic nonionic surfactant constituting said ingredient (B) is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene glycerin monofatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oils and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil monofatty acid esters.  
   
   
       4 . The microemulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein said compound in said ingredient (C) having in a molecule thereof two or more oxypropylene groups (PO) and hydroxyl groups (OH) with the ratio in number of said two groups (PO/OH) being smaller than 5 is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene glycol, propylene oxide adducts of monoglycerin and propylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin.  
   
   
       5 . The microemulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein said monohydric alcohol or said dihydric alcohol having a carbon number ranging from 2 to 6 in said ingredient (C) is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propylene glycol, isoprene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol and hexylene glycol.  
   
   
       6 . The microemulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio (A)/(B) in weight of said ingredients (A) and (B) ranges from 0.1 to 10.  
   
   
       7 . The microemulsion according to  claim 1 , wherein said lipophilic nonionic surfactant constituting said ingredient (D) is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene difatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene dialkyl ethers, monoglycerin monofatty acid esters, monoglycerin difatty acid esters, diglycerin monofatty acid esters, monoglyceryl monoalkyl ethers, diglyceryl monoalkyl ethers and sorbitan fatty add esters.  
   
   
       8 . A skin cosmetic comprising a microemulsion according to any one of claims  1  through  7 .  
   
   
       9 . A skin cleansing composition comprising a microemulsion according to any one of the preceding claims  1  through  7 .